New submarines bolster Canada’s Arctic security amid shifting threats

The Canadian government will order new conventionally powered submarines capable of operating under ice. The order will cover up to 12 vessels, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair announced Wednesday. The government has unveiled a new strategy, committing to over £5 billion defence spending.

"As the country with the longest coastline in the world, Canada needs a new fleet of submarines – and today, we’ve announced that we will move forward with this acquisition. This new fleet will enable Canada to protect its sovereignty in a changing world, and make valuable, high-end contributions to the security of our partners and NATO Allies. We look forward to delivering this new fleet to the Royal Canadian Navy," said Blair, as quoted in the statement.

The Ministry of Defence is currently meeting with potential partners and manufacturers, and a tender announcement will be published this autumn. The future service centre is to be located in Canada.

The statement did not disclose the planned value of the order, with the assumption that the Canadian Navy would be able to "covertly detect and deter maritime threats, control our maritime approaches, project power and striking capability further from our shores, and project a persistent deterrent on all three coasts." The goal set for suppliers is that the submarines should be challenging to detect, equipped with deadly weapons, durable, and capable of operating in the Arctic, including the capability for long-range missions.

The media reminded the Canadian Navy that it currently has four submarines purchased from the British Navy in the 1990s. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on refurbishments, and prolonged repairs have been the subject of much criticism from Canadian media in recent years.

At the beginning of April this year, the federal government announced a new defence strategy. Canada plans to spend over £5 billion on defence over the next five years and £45 billion over 20 years. Military presence in the Arctic will be increased, and China, Russia, and autocratic regimes are considered threats. The strategy is titled "Our North, Strong and Free," referencing the words of the Canadian anthem.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized that with climate change melting Arctic ice, "the Northwest Passage could become the most efficient shipping route between Europe and Asia by 2050". Highlighting new threats from Russia, the strategy stresses that Canadian defence in the Arctic "will be more crucial than ever," as Canada's north constitutes both the western and northern flanks of the Alliance. The primary expenditures listed in the strategy are to "ensure that the Canadian Arctic and North and its people are safe, secure and well defended."

According to government calculations, the defence spending to GDP ratio will rise to 1.76 percent within five years. Currently, Canada spends nearly 1.4 percent of its GDP on defence. In 2015, when the currently ruling Liberal team won the election, Canada was spending about 1 percent of its GDP on defence.